JP2001296464A - Camera - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve such a problem that a camera main body gets large-sized and trouble is caused in terms of design in the case that the zoom lens control button is arranged at the position at which excellent operability is obtained although there is a case that a zoom lens control button is provided at a diffi cult position to operate in a conventional camera. SOLUTION: This camera is constituted of a CPU 1 to control a constituting member, a zoom controlling part 2 to drive a zoom lens 3, a finder display part 4 to perform the turning-on and flickering or the like of character displays (LED) 4a and 4b provided at the inside of a finder, a detecting part 5 of the direction of the line of sight to detect which position within the finder the eye 6 of a photographer looking in the finder gazes at, a gaze continuation detecting part 7 to detect whether the photographer continues to gaze or not and a time measuring part 8 to measure time how long he (she) continues to gaze and when the line of sight of the photographer who gazes at a display part is detected, the step-like variable power of a zooming optical system to a wide angle end or a telephoto end is performed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a camera that performs gaze detection by gazing at display means provided in a viewfinder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, there is a camera equipped with a zoom lens capable of photographing at a desired angle of view by a photographer. As for the setting of the focal length by the zoom lens of such a camera, manual setting and a combination of a manual button and an electric actuator are widely used. In particular, there is a demand for a high-magnification zoom lens capable of zooming over a long focal length range, that is, capable of photographing a high-magnification farther object.

[0003] For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-32312 discloses an autofocus (AF) based on a line-of-sight input, which focuses on a subject to be watched while detecting the line of sight of a photographer in a screen formed on a finder. ) Cameras have been proposed. Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 4-124235 proposes a camera information setting device in which setting data such as an aperture value can be changed by a photographer's line of sight while observing a subject imaged in a finder.

[0004]

However, simply increasing the focal length by using the above-described high-magnification zoom lens,
It is not possible to photograph a distant subject large and beautifully. In other words, as the angle of view becomes narrower, the minute vibration of the camera and the movement of the subject become larger, and when this is exposed, a blurred photograph due to blurring is often taken.
In particular, prevention of camera shake is an important issue for camera manufacturers, and there is an urgent need for improved holding and innovation in vibration detection technology.

[0005] In addition, although correct holding is the basis for reducing camera shake, there are many cameras provided with a zoom lens control button at a position where operation is difficult. It is not easy to take a picture without camera shake after zooming to the long focal length side with such a camera. In addition, if the zoom lens control button is arranged at a position with good operability, the size of the camera body becomes large and a problem occurs in design, so that it is not optimal. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a camera having a small size and good operability.

[0006]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a zooming optical system, a display unit for lighting or blinking in a viewfinder, and whether or not a photographer is watching the display unit. A gaze direction detecting means for detecting whether the zooming optical system is at least at a wide-angle end or a telephoto end when a detection result that the photographer is gazing at the display unit is obtained by the gaze direction detection means. And a variable magnification driving unit for performing variable magnification driving. The variable power driving means drives the zoom optical system in a stepwise manner between the wide-angle end and the telephoto end. Also,
The display section includes a plurality of display elements, and each of the plurality of display elements indicates a focal length value in a step-like manner. In the camera configured as described above, when the line of sight of the photographer who is gazing at the display unit is detected, the zooming optical system is stepwise zoomed to the wide-angle end or the telephoto end.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1A illustrates a conceptual configuration of a camera equipped with a zoom lens according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and will be described.

This camera has a CPU 1 consisting of a one-chip microphone computer for controlling the constituent members, a zoom control unit 2 for driving a zoom lens 3, and a camera as shown in FIG. A finder display section 4 for lighting and blinking character displays (LEDs) 4a and 4b, a gaze direction detecting section 5 for detecting a position in the finder where the photographer's eyes 6 looking into the finder are watching, It comprises a gaze continuation detection unit 7 for detecting whether the photographer is gazing continuously, and a time measuring unit (timer) 8 for measuring the time for which the gazing is continued.

The LED 4a shown in FIG. 1B is for operating the zoom lens 3 to the wide side (W), and the LED 4b is for operating the zoom lens 3 to the tele side (T). Of
Each of the LEDs 4a and 4b is controlled so as to blink during operation and to be turned on when stopped, and also serves as a detection unit that detects the line of sight. Further, the CPU 1 detects whether the photographer is gazing at either the wide-side LED 4a or the tele-side LED 4b or gazing within the angle of view,
According to the result, it is determined via the zoom control unit 2 whether or not the zoom lens 3 is to be zoomed to the tele side or the wide side, and drive control is performed.

Referring to the flowchart shown in FIG. 1 (c), the zooming operation of the camera configured as described above will be described. First, the line-of-sight direction detection unit 5
It is determined whether the user is gazing at 4a, 4b (step S
1). In this determination, if the user is gazing (YES), the counter is reset (step S2), and the gazing time T is counted until the gazing ends (steps S3 and S4). In this gazing time T, the zoom amount Z1 is determined by gazing at one of the LEDs 4a and 4b (step S5). Next, zooming is started, and at the same time, the CPU 1 monitors the zooming amount Z1 from the zoom control unit 2 (step S6).

Next, when the first release switch 37 is turned on (step S7), or when the zoom amount has reached the zoom amount Z1 obtained in step S5 (step S8), the zooming operation is stopped (step S8).
9). Therefore, the longer the time for gazing at the LEDs 4a and 4b, the greater the zoom amount. By pressing the release button (shutter button) halfway, the first release switch 3
By turning on 7, the zooming operation is stopped at an arbitrary angle of view.

With the camera configured as described above, the photographer can perform zooming without touching the zoom button without manually operating the zoom button, and can perform a zooming operation without manual operation.

Next, FIG. 2A shows a schematic configuration of a finder optical system of the camera in which the above-mentioned line-of-sight direction detection unit 5 of the camera is incorporated. This finder optical system includes an objective lens 20 and an eyepiece 22.
A half mirror 21 is provided at the center of the eyepiece 22, and the line-of-sight direction detection unit 5 is disposed above the half mirror 21. This gaze direction detection unit 5
Comprises a half mirror 23, a first imaging lens 26, a second imaging lens 27, a light emitting diode 24, and a line sensor 25 such as a CCD.

In FIG. 2, the individual sensor arrays in the line sensor 25 are arranged in a direction perpendicular to the paper surface, that is, in a horizontal direction when the camera is viewed from the front. The line-of-sight direction detection unit 5 causes the light of the light-emitting diode 24 to enter the eye 6 of the photographer via the first imaging lens 26 and the half mirrors 23 and 21, and reflects the light reflected by the eye 6 on the half mirror. 21st, 23rd and 2nd
The corneal reflected light image and the boundary (iris edge) between the iris and the white eye are configured to be detected on the line sensor 25 via the imaging lens 27.

In FIG. 2B, the horizontal axis represents the output value of the line sensor corresponding to the corneal reflection image and the iris edge, and the position of the line sensor 25 along the axis passing horizontally through the center of the eye. Are respectively shown. In FIG. 2B, the output of the line sensor is the output A of the corneal reflection image,
Outputs B and C of the iris edge, and these outputs A, B and C
CPU determines the gaze direction of the photographer
1 processes.

Next, FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a camera equipped with the above-mentioned line-of-sight direction detecting section 5 and will be described. Here, members of the camera that are equivalent to the members of FIG. 1A are given the same reference numerals, and descriptions thereof are omitted. In this camera, a distance measuring circuit (AF) 30 is provided in the CPU 1 as an auto-focus function of the camera by detecting a distance to a subject.
At a predetermined timing, the AF circuit 30 is operated, and focusing is performed according to the output signal.

The CPU 1 outputs a brightness signal from a sensor 32 for determining the brightness of the subject, and outputs a motor signal via a motor driver 33 in accordance with a control signal of the CPU 1.
4 is connected. Then, the movement of the motor 34 is detected by the encoder 35 and input to the CPU 1. Although only one motor 34 is shown as a representative in this figure, a plurality of motors 34 are usually provided, and are arranged as power for zooming, shutter control, film winding control, and the like.

Further, zooming driving of the zoom lens 3 is performed by driving a motor 34 via an IF circuit 31 and a driver 33 according to a control signal of the CPU 1. The finder 36 is also designed to perform a zoom operation in conjunction with the photographing lens so that the photographer can easily understand. The first release switch 37 is a switch that is turned on while the release button is being depressed (half-pressed state), is referred to as “first release”, and detects the timing immediately before the photographer starts photographing. And
The second release switch 38 is a switch that is turned on when the release button is completely depressed, and detects a shutter button, that is, an exposure timing.
The main switch 39 provided in the CPU 1 is a switch that activates the CPU 1 in the on state and inhibits the operation in the off state, and reduces unnecessary current consumption and prevents erroneous operation other than during shooting.

Next, the operation of the camera having such a configuration will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First,
The gaze direction detector 5 is operated intermittently to determine whether the gaze of the photographer is gazing at the LED 4b (tele side) in FIG. 1B (step S11). In this judgment LED4b
LED4a when not paying attention to (tele side) (NO)
It is determined whether or not the user is gazing at (wide side). When the LED 4a (wide side) is not watched in this determination (N
O), the zooming operation is not performed, and the first release switch 37 is turned on (step S1).
4).

In step S11, the LED 4b
If the user is gazing at the (tele side) (YES), the process shifts to step S23 to determine that the zoom operation is desired on the tele side (long focal length). If it is determined in step S12 that the user is gazing at the LED 4a (wide side) (YES), the process proceeds to step S30 to determine that the zooming operation is desired on the wide side (near focal length). .

If the zooming operation is desired on the (tele side) in step S11 (YES), a DC power supply as shown in FIG. 6C is sent to the LED, and the LED 4b is turned on as shown in FIG. The light is turned on and displayed to the photographer (step S23), the line-of-sight direction is correctly detected, the motor 34 rotates in a predetermined direction, and the zoom lens 3 is zoomed toward the telephoto side by a predetermined amount (step S24).

Then, it is determined whether zooming has been performed on the telephoto side (telephoto end fmax) (step S2).
5) When reaching the telephoto end (YES), a warning is issued (step S26), zooming is stopped (step S27), and the process returns to step S11. The above-mentioned warning changes the LED 4b from lighting to blinking as shown in FIG. 6B, and as shown in FIG.
It is driven intermittently with a duty of 50% at 2 Hz. With this warning, the photographer is made aware that zooming to the telephoto side is no longer possible. On the other hand, in step S25, when zooming is still possible (NO), the first release switch 37 is turned on, and if it is turned on (YE).
S), it is determined that photographing is desired, and the zooming operation is stopped (step S29), and the process proceeds to step S14.

In step S12 (wide side)
When a zooming operation is desired (YES),
The LED 4a shown in (a) is turned on to display to the photographer (step S30), the gaze direction is detected, the motor 34 rotates in a predetermined direction, and the zoom lens 3 is zoomed to a wide side by a predetermined amount. (Step S3
1). Then, fully fill the wide side (wide end f
min) It is determined whether zooming has been performed (step S3).
2) When reaching the wide end (YES), a warning is issued (step S11), zooming is stopped (step S26), and the process returns to step S11. The above-mentioned warning is the same as that of the LED 4b.

On the other hand, in step S32, when zooming is still possible (NO), the first standby switch 37 is turned on (step S35), and if turned on (YES), it is determined that photographing is desired, and the zooming operation is performed. Is stopped (Step S36), and Step S14 is stopped.
Move to Then, when the process proceeds to step S14, the CP
Under the control of U1, distance measurement is performed (step S14), and photometry is performed (step S15). These distance measurement and photometry are performed by operating the AF circuit 30 and the IF circuit 31 in FIG.

Next, it is determined whether or not the second release switch 38 has been turned on (step S16). If it has not been turned on (NO), it is determined whether or not the first release switch 37 has been turned on. (Step S
22). In step S22, the first release switch 37
Is turned on (YES), the process goes to step S16 to wait for the second release switch 38 to be turned on. However, if the first release switch 37 is turned off (NO), the process returns to step S11. This is a case where the photographer releases the release button and interrupts the photographing for a reason such as a composition change.

Next, when the second release switch 38 is turned on in step S16 (YES), focusing is performed (step S17). Then, in the case of the system equipped with the vibration detecting unit 40 that detects the vibration of the camera shown in FIG. 3, the predetermined focal length fT1 is compared with the limited focal length f of the zoom lens (step S1).
8). From this comparison, when the zoom lens is on the long focal length side (YE
S), it is determined that the frequency of occurrence of camera shake increases, and vibration detection is performed (step S19). As a result of this vibration detection,
If the vibration detection amount m ≧ the predetermined amount m0 (NO), the process returns to step S19 and waits for the vibration to subside. But,
If the vibration detection amount m <the predetermined amount m0 (YES), exposure is performed (step S21).

Next, the vibration detection will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. In this vibration detection, in FIG. 3, it is provided separately from the line-of-sight direction detection unit 5,
The line-of-sight direction detection unit 5 may be used. That is, since the photographer is watching the main subject after the second release switch 38 is turned on, the vibration may be detected from the magnitude of the temporal change of the line-of-sight direction detection signal. That is, by using the configuration described in FIG. 2 and processing the output as in the sequence shown in FIG. 5, the generation of the exposure signal (photographing timing signal) that is turned on by pressing down the second release switch 38 causes the line of sight The direction detector 5 is used as a vibration detector. Thereby, the camera of the present embodiment is
It can be provided without increasing the number of components and without increasing the cost while preventing camera shake.

First, it is determined whether or not the second release switch 38 has been turned on (step S131). When the second release switch 38 has been turned on (YES), the line-of-sight direction detecting section 5 switches the function of the camera vibration detecting section. Next, the counter is reset (step S132), and the output D1 is read from the line sensor. Then, counting is started by the counter, and when the predetermined time t0 has been reached (steps S134 and S135), the output D2 is read from the line sensor (step S126). Then, the read outputs D1 and D2 of the line sensor are subtracted to obtain an absolute value, and a vibration detection amount m representing the vibration of the camera is obtained (step S137).

If the camera and the photographer are not moving, the vibration detection amount m obtained here is:
It becomes “0”, and the larger the motion (sway), the larger the vibration detection amount m.

Next, FIG. 7 shows, as a second embodiment, display LEDs 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d in the viewfinder.
I will explain the camera that is easier to use. This LE
D4a and 4b are used for low-speed control of the zooming operation on the wide side and the tele side, and LEDs 4c and 4d are variable speed zooms for high-speed control of the zooming operation.

The operation of such a variable speed zoom of the camera will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the LED 4a is being watched (step S41). If the LED 4a is being watched (YES), the zooming operation is performed at a low speed on the wide side (step S42), and the LED 4a is watched. If not (NO), it is determined whether or not the LED 4c is being watched (step S43).

If it is determined in step S43 that the LED 4c is being watched (YES), the zoom operation is performed at high speed toward the wide side (step S44). However, if the LED 4c is not watched (NO), the LED 4b is watched. It is determined whether or not there is (Step S45). If it is determined in step S45 that the LED 4b is gazing (Y
ES), a zooming operation is performed on the tele side at a low speed (step S46), but if the LED 4b is not watched (NO), it is determined whether or not the LED 4d is watched (step S47).

In the determination in step S47, the LED 4d
Is watched (YES), a zooming operation to the tele side is performed at high speed (step S48). After performing the above zooming operation, it is determined whether or not the first release switch 37 is turned on. If it is off (NO), step S4 is performed.
1, if it is turned on (YES), distance measurement is performed (step S50), and then the process proceeds to step S15 in FIG.
Performs the same processing. However, low-speed,
There is a difference in high-speed zooming.
In S31, it is assumed that the portion corresponding to the step of the zooming operation is deformed according to the speed.

That is, in the subroutine of step S42, the zooming operation to the wide side is performed once every predetermined time.
On the other hand, in the subroutine of step S44, zooming to the wide side is performed at predetermined intervals of 30 mm in contrast to moving at 0 mm intervals. Similarly, in step S46, zooming to the tele side is performed by 10
In step S47, zooming to the telephoto side is performed in steps of 30 mm. This allows the photographer to perform a more detailed and quick zooming operation.

Next, a camera according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. The camera according to the present embodiment has the same configuration as that shown in FIG. 3, and in the embodiment where the gaze direction is constantly detected as described above when the main switch 39 is closed (on). Since wasteful current consumption and the like flow through the line-of-sight detection LED shown in FIG. 2A, the line-of-sight direction is detected after the photographer once presses the release button halfway.

The operation of the camera thus configured will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. First, it is determined whether or not the first release switch 37 is on (step S60). If it is not turned on in this determination (N
O), the line-of-sight direction detection unit 5 does not operate. When turned on (YES), the line-of-sight direction detection timer t is reset (step S61), and distance measurement and photometry are performed (steps S62 and S63).

Next, it is determined whether or not the second release switch 38 is on (step S64).
S), it is determined that the photographer performs photographing without performing the zooming operation. After focusing (step S65), exposure is performed (step S66), and photographing ends. However, in step S64, the second release switch 38
Is off (NO), it is determined whether or not the first release switch 37 is kept on (step S67).
If it is on (YES), it waits until the second release switch 38 is turned on, and if it is off (N
O), the display LEDs 4a and 4b in the viewfinder are turned on (step S68) to indicate that the line-of-sight direction detection unit 5 has been activated.

In this lighting state, the LEDs 4a, 4
When the photographer gazes at any of b, the LED to gaze at is determined (steps S69 and S72). Also, the LED that the photographer does not watch is turned off (steps S70 and S7).
3), the operating side can easily recognize. Next, zooming is performed by a predetermined amount toward the tele side and the wide side (steps S71 and S74). Next, it is determined whether or not the first release switch 37 is turned on (step S75). If the first release switch 37 is turned on (YES), distance measurement and photometry are performed (steps S77 and S78), and the process proceeds to step S64.

However, in the determination of step S75, the first
If ON of the release switch 37 is not detected (N
O), it is determined whether or not the operation time t has exceeded a predetermined time t0 (step S76). If the operation time t is less than the predetermined time t0 (NO), the process returns to step S69, and the operation time t is reduced. If the predetermined time t0 has passed, (Y
ES), returning to step S60 for labor saving, and turning off the line-of-sight direction detecting unit 5; When the zooming operation is performed again, the release button may be pressed to turn on the first release switch 37.

Further, by making the line-of-sight direction detecting sensor 25 described with reference to FIG. 2 capable of two-dimensional detection, as shown in FIG.
It is also possible to detect whether or not the photographer gazes at the LED 4f. By setting the exposure to be performed when the LED 4e is watched, it is possible to prevent camera shake due to vibration that occurs when the release button of the conventional camera is pressed. However, in the sequence in which the exposure is performed only by looking at one point in the viewfinder, a photograph may be erroneously taken. Therefore, the first release switch 37 is turned on according to the flowchart shown in FIG. In this state, exposure is performed only when the LED 4e is watched. That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 11, it is basically assumed that there is a conventional release switch manually operated by an external device.

First, it is determined whether or not the LED 4a is being watched (step S81). If the LED 4a is being watched (YES), a zooming operation is performed on the wide side (step S82). (NO), LE
It is determined whether D4b is being watched (step S8)
3). If it is determined in step S83 that the LED 4b is being watched (YES), a zooming operation is performed on the telephoto side (step S84). Next, it is determined whether or not the first release switch 37 is turned on (step S).
85) If it is off (NO), the process returns to step S81. If it is on (YES), the distance is measured (step S8).
6) Photometry is performed (step S87), and focusing is performed (step S88).

Next, it is determined whether or not the LED 4e is being watched (step S89).
O) It is determined whether or not the second release switch 38 is turned on (step S91). If the LED 4e is gazed at (YES), exposure is performed (step S90). In step S91, if the second release switch 38 is off (NO), the first release switch 3
It is determined whether or not the photographer 7 is turned on. If the photographer is on (YES), the process returns to step S89 to wait. If the first release switch 37 is turned off (NO), the photographer releases the release button. And step S
Return to 81. In the step S91, 2nd
If the release switch 38 is turned on (YES), the flow shifts to step S90 to perform exposure.

The LED 4f shown in FIG. 10 has a function of starting a self-timer.
A camera in which the release is released after a predetermined time from when the LED 4f starts blinking can be manufactured with the same idea. By providing a function that allows release (exposure) operation by such gaze detection, the release button can be inadvertently used for self-photography, etc., when the camera is placed in an unstable place without being fixed to a tripod or the like. To prevent the composition from being disturbed.

Next, a camera according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. In this camera, a zooming operation as shown in FIG. 12 is varied stepwise.
The LEDs 4g, 4h, 4i, and 4j are LED displays indicating numerical values of the focal length, and the LEDs 4a and 4b are LEs for displaying the wide side and the tele side as shown in FIG. 1B, respectively.
D.

In this embodiment, the LEDs 4a, 4
b, fine adjustment of the zooming operation is performed.
h, 4i, and 4j allow coarse adjustment to be performed. By watching the numerical display, zooming corresponding to the focal length is performed.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the operation of such a camera. First, it is determined whether the user is gazing at the LED 4g (step S101). L
When watching the ED 4g (YES), the LED 4g
Is blinked (step S102), and a zooming operation of 30 mm is performed (step S103).
The ED 4g is turned on (step S104).

Hereinafter, in the LEDs 4h, 4i and 4j,
Similarly, zooming operations of 50 mm, 70 mm, and 90 mm are performed (steps S105 to S116). And LED
When the user gazes at 4a and 4b, a zooming operation is performed on the wide side or the tele side (steps S117 to S12).
0). After each zooming operation described above is completed, 1st
It is determined whether or not the release switch 37 is on (step S121), and if it is off (NO), step S
Returning to step 101, if the switch is on (YES), distance measurement is performed (step S122), and the process proceeds to step S15 in FIG.

From the above, the camera of this embodiment is
A photograph in focus can be taken without missing a photo opportunity. Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and it goes without saying that various modifications and applications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0049]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a camera having a small size and good operability.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1A is a diagram showing a conceptual configuration of a camera as a first embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 1B is a diagram showing the arrangement of character displays (LEDs) 4a and 4b provided in the viewfinder.
(C) is a flowchart for explaining the zooming operation of the camera.

FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a finder optical system of a camera in which the line-of-sight direction detecting unit shown in FIG. 1A is incorporated, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating output characteristics of a line sensor included in a line-of-sight direction detection unit.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a camera equipped with a gaze direction detection unit illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the camera shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart for explaining vibration detection.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an arrangement of LEDs in a finder and a voltage waveform applied to the LEDs.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a configuration in a finder of a variable speed camera as a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the variable speed camera according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of a camera as a third embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an arrangement of LEDs arranged in a finder.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a camera that can be exposed by a line of sight.

FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of a viewfinder of a camera according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, in which a zooming operation is changed in a stepwise manner.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a camera in which a zooming operation is changed in a stepwise manner according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... One-chip microphone computer (CPU) 2 ... Zoom control part 3 ... Zoom lens 4a, 4b ... Character display (LED) 5 ... Eye-gaze direction detection part 6 ... Eye 7 ... Gaze continuation detection part 8 ... Time measurement part ( Timer 20) Objective lens 21, 23 Half mirror 22 Eyepiece 24 Light emitting diode 25 Line sensor 26 First imaging lens 27 Second imaging lens 30 Auto focus (AF) circuit 31 Interface ( IF) circuit 32 ... sensor 33 ... motor driver 34 ... motor 35 ... encoder 36 ... finder 37 ... 1st release switch 38 ... 2nd release switch 39 ... main switch.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A zooming optical system, a display unit for lighting or blinking in a viewfinder, a gaze direction detection unit for detecting whether a photographer is gazing at the display unit, and a gaze direction detection unit When a detection result that the photographer is gazing at the display unit is obtained, the zooming optical system includes at least a zoom drive unit that zooms at a wide-angle end or a telephoto end. Features camera. 2. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the zoom driving unit drives the zoom optical system in a stepwise manner between the wide-angle end and the telephoto end. 3. The camera according to claim 1, wherein the display unit includes a plurality of display elements, each of which indicates a focal length value in a step-like manner. .